lethargicperfectionist

Not a very interesting debate- well, I was interested, but I think that most people will not see or hear anything new or interesting considering the current circumstances. Both McCain and Obama stuck close to their given policy and campaign positions. There were no knockouts, no major mistakes, and nothing that I saw which would irreparably damage either campaign. However, the onus was on McCain to change the course of the election, and he didn’t do it, unless you are already a die-hard conservative or just an Obama-hater. McCain is behind in national polls, behind in the battlegrounds states of Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, and Florida (Wisconsin, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania seem to be safely Obama states for now: Missouri and Indiana are becoming “in-play states”- so McCain has to defend traditionally red-states), and is behind in most major demographics (cept white men it seems). And nothing that McCain did tonight will radically change this scenario. But here is my run-down of some major happenings (though this will not be as in-depth as the past debates, since this just wasn’t that interesting or illuminating of a debate).

• What I thought was interesting was that Obama believed that Health Care is a right, while McCain makes it a responsibility. I think that single point was probably the most important moment of the night- and should resonate with most working and middle class people who have seen the necessity for health care to treat ailments, cover expensive MRI costs, insure that children and the elderly are properly treated, and insure that people are not priced out of necessary and vital medical treatments not seen as essential by the insurance companies.
• McCain has been said to be a fan of the town-hall debate style- but he looked kinda stiff and robotic to me, rather than loose or confident. He did eventually get more personable with the audience, about 1 hour and 16 minutes into the debate. Probably was too late by that time. I thought that Obama came across as he usually does- he is confident in what he knows, was more ready to explain his positions and decry McCain’s misleading comments, and was clear and well-spoken on how he differs from McCain. But I felt he could’ve been more personable to the every-day person- he didn’t begin to talk about his family stories and experiences till the very end of the debate.
• Major misleading points: McCain spreading fear to small business owners that Obama will raise taxes on them- especially on health care penalties: but there are exceptions to this general plan that was not articulated by McCain (large employers that do not offer meaningful coverage or contribute to the cost of coverage would be required to pay a percentage of payroll toward the costs of a public insurance plan. But small businesses would be exempt from that requirement.)
• McCain’s supposed new plan to have the government buy up the failed mortgages to renegotiate the true value of those loans…is in fact part of the $700 billion dollar plan that was signed just last week. The Secretary of the Treasury already has the authority to buy up some of the failed mortgages, and is not limited to 300 billion dollars as outlined by McCain. This takes the wind out of the sales of McCain’s plan, and it actually presents McCain as somewhat reckless in dealing with our current debt by presenting a further monetary plan that will cost the taxpayers hundreds of billions.
• Obama scored a couple of points: (straight-talk express has lost a wheel, reminding McCain about history- underscoring McCain’s unique view on historical events, and utilizing the hatchet/scalpel dichotomy to showcase McCain’s recklessness with budgetary matters). McCain tried to demonstrate that Obama was
• McCain fails to say the words “Middle Class” yet again. That will score points for sure. Obama said “middle class” four times. Obama also mentioned the importance of a strong educational policy, while McCain doesn’t mention education. McCain does not talk about the recent scathing attacks brought up by Governor Sarah Palin (terrorism, Ayers, Obama unpatriotic or something to that regard) which may suggest that this line of attack may have its limitations, and thus will constrain McCain’s method of attack.
• Both candidates love Israel, don’t want to wait for the UN to act (though the UN is an easy bunching bag for an American candidate; the UN is very unpopular in the US & is not always a forum for justice and fairness in world affairs, what with veto power only available to the US, Russia, and China), and believe that military action must be an available tool for state-craft. Not an exactly atypical response from either candidate- and this will play very well in middle-America, but their positions on Iran more divergent, though this has already been touched upon in the previous debate- though Obama got in the dig that McCain sang the infamous song- “Bomb, bomb, Iran” and voiced wiping North Korea from the map. So I wonder whether McCain can effectively deal with either country when he wants to destroy both…just a thought.
• McCain calls Obama “that one.” Hmm. While this clearly indicates McCain’s very visible disdain for Obama, not to mention highlights McCain’s condescending and feelings of superiority over a fellow US Senator. And it painfully presents the racial undertones that are present in this election: white male privilege in action.
• I think that McCain lost a lot of ground in the foreign policy discussion. Obama seemed more confident, if somewhat over-enthusiastic, about dealing with Al Qaeda, the Taliban, confronting Pakistan, stabilizing Afghanistan, and dealing with genocidal actions around the globe. McCain decided to give a lengthy history lessen about Russia’s invasion of Afghanistan, throwing around General Petraeus’s name left and right, and could only refute the bomb bomb Iran song with some weak excuse about joking around with a serviceman. Funny, right?
• Obama talks a lot about health care- and this is an important part of the economic downturn discussion that is currently taking place. Apparently when Obama mentioned taking on the Health insurers cheating their customers, the dials amongst undecided voters in test groups were very positive. McCain is pretty stuck on that $5000 tax credit, which over time wouldn’t help to solidify insurance costs or the premiums of your average family. And the only people absolutely mandated to be covered by the Obama health care plan are children.
• Not a big fan of McCain’s idea of shopping around for Health Care plans across state lines or something to that effect.
• New “Maverick” line of the night for you wanting to start a drinking game- “My friends,” by John McCain. At least he didn’t use Maverick all that much this time around. Maybe it’s lost its stock or potency. Especially once it has been cheapened by someone like Sarah Palin. Maverick she is not.
• McCain is big on commissions. He wants a commission on Medicare and social security, a commission on the current economic crisis, and probably one on health care no doubt. Yeah, that’s doing the job you were elected to, right?
• Nailing jello to the wall? That was McCain’s zinger about Obama’s “ever-changing” tax plan. But Obama presented his plan pretty clearly: 95 percent of Americans would not be taxed, and small businesses would be protected. Jello, eh?
• I was glad that Obama mentioned the need to increase the Peace Corps, strengthening community groups, and encouraging young people to become more civically engaged. Guess Palin and McCain are still making their witty wise-cracks about community service? All the way to runner-up I guess.
• Fannie/Freddie Mac show up once again…by the republicans again…and McCain’s role in fighting these housing organizations continues to be trumpeted as something revolutionary. Yeah, I somehow don’t care. One should note that McCain had the opportunity to make fundamental changes when the Republicans were in power of the Senate- but aversion to market regulation derailed necessary protections.
• Obama scored with his blistering attack on AIG- what with their nearly half a million dollar spa-treatment in the midst of the current economic downturn and government bailout. Didn’t hear McCain mention anything regarding this- but I do know that a lot of people are very upset about AIG’s practices.

McCain tried to make some remarks about a overhead projector, hair transplants, and something about having a steady hand on the tiller. Not really sure what this means- cept that McCain thinks he’s the best for the job- but I do wonder if that is true. Obama seemed much more forceful on foreign policy (which is supposed to McCain’s strong suit), confident in discussing health care and economic policy, and maintained a poised and “presidential” dignity while weathering attacks from McCain. Whatever can be said about tonight, McCain did not score the knockout punch that he needs. So Debate II has to be counted as an Obama win, and McCain will have to go back to his underhanded tactics, mudslinging, and his Palin-attack dog. Which is just what this election needs.

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